Voters to decide who supervises Chico city clerk

CHICO -- Should the city clerk be under the supervision of the Chico City Council or the city manager?

That question is being posed to voters this fall.

Before it was changed in 1994, the city council had authority over the city clerk for more than a century. Now council members say returning to the prior method will increase accountability, transparency and access to public information.

If Measure L passes, the city clerk would be appointed by and report to the city council and not the city manager, as is the process today. The position's duties would be unchanged.

Councilman Mark Sorensen said the position needs to return to the way it was originally created and the way it is done with so many other cities throughout the state. He said there have been problems with the method in its current form, but he declined to elaborate.

"The city clerk is going to be independent and answer to the council and to the people," he said.

Though there was bipartisan support when the council voted in June to put the item on the ballot, it was not unanimous.

Council member Scott Gruendl, who voted yes, said to the best of his understanding, opposition to the measure was from council members who felt that putting the issue on the ballot was a slight to the city manager and made it look like something had been done wrong.

"I told Dave Burkland several times this has nothing to do with him," Gruendl said "I just think it is more transparent and better for the council to have this through the City Clerk's Office."

According to supporters, the change will create full authority over meeting agendas to assure filing deadlines are honored and public documents are available in a timely manner. It also would remove barriers to council members requesting items be placed on the agenda.

In Gruendl's 10 years on the council, he said he has had a few experiences of where he wanted issues put on the agenda and was talked out of it by the city manager.

"That kind of stuff needs to occur in front of the public, not behind closed doors," he said. "The existing process is not conducive to what was intended to put the issue before the council for discussion, which is each council member's prerogative."

It's also important that elected officials have someone to gather information in the name of transparency, instead of having to go through the city manager.

"Not that it's a big issue, but from time to time, council members do not always get pieces of information they request," he said. "They have an informational role and it's very important for them to be the direct supplier of that information to the council."

The council currently has power and authority to appoint the city manager, city attorney, and various board and commission members. All other officers and department heads are appointed by the city manager, usually subject to council confirmation.